Exercising apparatus



April 24, 1934. J. R. H. DUKE EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Oct'. 27 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John R. H. Duke www ATTORNE( April 24, 1934. 1 R. H. DUKE 1,956,498

EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ULL w INVENTOR' John Ra Ha Duke ATTORNEY Patented pr. 24, 1934 unse swfAres PATENT FFIC Application October 27,

In Great Britain 6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for exercising and developing the muscles of t-e body, particularly those of the fingers, wrists, arms and back.

An essential feature of the improved apparatus which constitutes the invention is an arrangement of springs and axially aligned handgrips such that not only the separation but also the approximation of the handgrips compresses one and l the same spring or set of springs. The spring or springs are of helical form and encircle parallel or concentric rods or tubes longitudinally movable with respect to each other and respectively attached to the handgrips. When the handgrips l are separated, abutment or follower plates on the free ends of the rods engage the outer ends of the spring or springs and compress them towards a central point. When the handgrips are pushed towards each other they engage these abutments and compress the spring or springs towards a central point.

In the preferred construction of the apparatus, two helical springs cr sets of springs are provided, one on either side of a central abutment the outer surface of which is formed as a drum upon which, as one of the exercises for which the apparatus can be used, a tensioned string is wound by the muscular action of the fingers, wrists and arms, the apparatus being held, preferably in a horizontal position, bythe handgrips, which can be temporarily secured a distance apart suitable for the purpose. To effect the winding of the tensioned string, the handgrips are alternately released to shift the grip of the hand, so

that a torque is then applied to the gripping hand due to the tension on the string and the weight `of the apparatus.

One embodiment of the improved apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereflO in Fig. l is La central longitudinal section; Fig. 2

a section on line 2-2 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction .of the arrows; Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations of the apparatus showing the relative positions of the parts when the springs are com- -l pressed by the separation and the approximation respectively of the handgrips; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a sectional elevation and a plan of an accessory apparatus for use in conjunction with the apparatus of Fig. `1; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 8 an end elevation and Fig.

9 a plan View of the central section of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing a modification of the same.

lReferring rst to Figs. 1 4, A, A are tubular 'handgrips the former of which is attached to a central rodB of non-circular section ,in such man- 1932, Serial No. 639,902 November 9, 1931 ner that when pulled outwardlyy that is to say away from the centre of the apparatus, the rod B moves with it, while when it is pushed towards the centre of the apparatus the handgrip A slides over the rod. The other handgrip A is connected in a similar manner with three rods B which are spaced around the central rod B. The rod B has an abutment plate C secured at its free end, that is at the end opposite to handgrip A, and the three rods B' similarly are provided with an abutment plate C' at their outer or free ends. Interposed between the plates C and C' and a central abutment D, through which the rods B, B pass freely, are helical springs E, E each of which is shown in Fig. 1 as divided into two sections, by means of guide or spacing discs F, F through which the rods B, B pass freely. Integral with or secured to the central abutment D is a drum G the purpose of which will be subsequently explained.

It will be seen that when the handgrips A, A are pulled outwardly away from each other, the springs E are compressed betweenV the central abutment D and the abutment C on the ends of the rods B', while the springs E are compressed between the central abutment D and the abutment plate C o n the end of the rod B, the rods and handgrips then assuming the relative positions shown in Fig. 3,

Similarly, when the handgrips A, A' are pressed towards each other the solid or plugged ends of these handgrips engage the abutment plates C, C and, sliding over the rods B, B', compress the springs E, E between these two outer abutment plates and the central abutment D.

The handgrips A, A are preferably provided with loosely fitting sleeves A0, say of leather or rubber, or it may be of metal, in which latter case the sleeves are split longitudinally, so as to ensure that the handgrips must be grasped very tightly by the hands before the drum G can be rotated through the medium of the rods B, B and the grips A, A by the turning action of the hands on the grips.

rThe rotation of the drum G in this manner comes into play in connection with the auxiliary apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This apparatus consists of a box H which is adapted to be secured to a horizontal or vertical surface, such as a :licor or wall, and in which is mounted a rotatable drum I having wound on it a string I. The rotation of the drum is resisted by the friction of brake bands J with the boss or trunnions of the drum, and this resisting force is preferably adjustable as by means of a spring K and adjustment bolt K by means of which the tension of the brake bands J can be varied.

When this apparatus is used in conjunction with the apparatus of Fig. l, the user stands at any convenient distance from the box, secures the free end of the string I around the drum G and, by rotating the handgrips alternately by means of his hands, he winds the string I from the drum I upon the drum G against the tension imparted to it by the action of the brake bands J.

It will be seen that because of the interposition of the loose sleeves Ao between the users hands and the handgrips A, A', it will be impossible for him to wind the string on the drum G unless at the same time he grips the sleeves by pressure of the lingers so as to create quite considerable friction between the sleeves and the handgrips A, A.

If it is desired to re-wind the string I' on the drum I, the apparatus of Fig. 1 is placed in suitable notches L formed in the sides of the box or casing H, and the drum I rotated to wind the string I', as by means of a handle I0 applied to the squared end of the drum axle, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Should the normal position of the handgrips A, A be too far apart for comfort in using the apparatus of Fig. 1 in conjunction with that of Fig. 5, they should be secured at a suitable distance apart for the purpose required, by pushing the handgrips towards each other until a hole B0 in the rod B is uncovered by the handgrip A to enable a pin, for example a split pin P which is used to connect the handgrip A with the rod B, to be inserted into the hole. The handgrips will then remain at the selected distance apart without imposing any strain on the user.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the drum G-may be detachably secured upon the central abutment D, as for example by attaching a tapered tongue or key M longitudinally on the outside of the abutment D, and forming the drum G with a correspondingly tapered slit enabling it to be slid along the key so as to engage tightly therewith. vIn this case it is preferable that the drum G should be provided with longitudinal pins N on either side of the slit and at such a distance from the centre of the drum that they stand above the level of the tongue or key M when the drum is in position. The object of these raised pins is to prevent the string binding upon the tongue M and thereby rendering it diicult to detach drum G from the central abutment D Without first re-winding the string on to drum I.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claimz 1. An exercising apparatus comprising two axially aligned hand grips relatively movable in the direction of their axis, a spring disposed between the said hand grips, and means including an abutment plate at each end of said spring and actuated by either the separation or approximation of the hand grips to compress the spring.

2. An exercising apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abutment plate at either end of the spring is connected with the hand grip at the opposite end by a rod, the said connections permitting the hand grips to slide along the rods when pushed towards each other.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spring is in the form of a helix and the abutment plate at one end of the spring is connected with the hand grip at the opposite end by a central rod of non-circular cross section, while the other abutment plate is connected with the other hand grip by a plurality of rods spaced around the central rod and encircled by the helical spring.

4. An apparatus according to claim l, wherein the abutment plate at either end of the spring is connected with the hand grip at the opposite end by a rod and the spring is in the form of a helix and is subdivided by a central abutment through which the rods attached to the hand grips are free to slide.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spring is in the form of a helix subdivided by a central abutment having a drum secured on its outer surface.

6. An apparatus according to claim l, wherein the hand grips are encircled by loosely fitting sleeves.

JOHN REGINALD I-IARE DUKE. 

